Peter Dial Lykins
From Donald Frisby via Madge Lykins Fackler
In the 1860s the United States was being torn apart with disagreements over slavery and states rights. The leaders of the Confederacy were predominately Democrats and the Republicans led by Abraham Lincoln upheld the views of the Union. Kentucky, though a border state, clearly was in the arms of the Confederacy. Voting records show the only one name with the name of Lykins supported the Republican Party in Kentucky. He was a blacksmith who lived in Caney, Morgan County, Kentucky. His name was Peter D. Lykins.
One of the most tragic products of the Civil War was the division it caused not only between states and political views, but between family members as well. Peter and his wife, Evaline, had more than their share of heartache in this area. They had their whole family shattered by this division. They were stanch Union Supporters as were their two elder sons, who enlisted in the Union Army. Their other sons were Confederate Sympathizers along with all their neighbors and other kin.
The feelings against Peter by his Confederate Sympathizing kinsmen reached intense proportions. These strong beliefs and hot tempers finally resulted in Peter being visited in the middle of the night be an angry group of his neighbors and relatives, including his father. The group was led by William Lykins, who was not only his neighbor, a Baptist preacher, the Judge of Morgan County, but his brother as well. They were barely given time to get together a few household belongings before being forced to leave. Peter and his family fled into the cold darkness with $1,000 in gold and Evaline dressed up as a pregnant woman to help get them through the Confederate Lines. Peter Dial and family traveled north, settling finally in Lewis County, where he founded the town of Petersville.
Where as before Peter had been a stanch Democrat, the same as his Morgan County Kin, he now became a rigid Republican. Being forcibly evicted from his home as he was, he forbade the word “Democrat” to be said aloud in his house. Neither Peter Dial nor Evaline ever returned to Morgan County. They never saw their parents or kinsmen again, with the exception of the visits from Dudley Curl, Peter’s nephew. It was over 100 years later that there was ever any contact between the two branches of the Lykins family.
Peter Dial Lykins was the great-great grandfather of Dwight Lee Lykins of Shiloh and Shelby, Ohio.
I have several families in my ancestry that were torn apart by the Civil War. Only when researching them did I realize just how divisive the war was. Today we think we have strong passions regarding politics and war, but I don’t think we’ve come close to what happened back then.
Peter Dial Lykins was the grandfather of John Riley Lykins, who was born in Knott County, KY and died in Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio. John Riley was my grandfather.
Interesting reading. I’ve recently started tracing out my family lines. I’ve discovered a direct connection to some of the people you’ve mentioned. I must say it is awe inspiring to trace familial lines back.
Dwight Lee Lykins died in1968 not 62
To whom it may concern , thank you posting this story . This peter dial lykins is my grandmother’s grandfather. She (carrie may miranda)was born 1890 her mother ( evaline lykins 2nd may) was born 1858 and her grandfather (peter dail lykins) was born in 1820. Since i was 10 when she passed i didnt hear of any stories but i did inherit some pictures, which the one with dial wife standing that man sitting was her son-in-law john jackon may married to eveline 2nd (father peter dial lykins mother evaline stacy lykins). Again thank you so much for posting this story.
I’m sorry our families were divided.
I am looking for informtation on David J. ‘Stick’ LYKINS’ wife named Nancy Jane Williams, she is a descendant of Mayflower pilgrims. Can you help me?
The line comes from Nancy’s maternal line, her mother was Rebecca Violet Crouch or Couch married to Elder Daniel Williams.
Rebecca Violet’s mother was Sarah Howes. This is were it gets confusing…
John HOWLAND Pilgrim of the Mayflower (1591 – 1672)
12th great-grandfather
Hope HOWLAND (Parents sailed on the Mayflower) (1629 – 1683)
daughter of John HOWLAND Pilgrim of the Mayflower
Elizabeth CHIPMAN (1648 – 1712)
daughter of Hope HOWLAND (Parents sailed on the Mayflower)
Dorcas JOYCE ( – 1759)
daughter of Elizabeth CHIPMAN
Prince HOWES (1700 – 1793)
son of Dorcas JOYCE
Sarah HOWES (1744 – 1821)
daughter of Prince HOWES
Rebecca Violet CROUCH Couch (1765 – 1830)
daughter of Sarah HOWES
Nancy Jane WILLIAMS (1794 – 1840)
daughter of Rebecca Violet CROUCH Couch
William Bruce LYKINS (1811 – 1893)
son of Nancy Jane WILLIAMS
I do not know, if my findings are correct…
Thank you for your time…
Debra J. Reynolds Knight
Do you have a source for the connection to Dorcas Joyce? According to the source below, Dorcas was married to a Prince Howes, and although they had a son named Prince, there does not seem to be a link to a Sarah who might have been Violet’s mother. See also wikitree.com. https://archive.org/stream/genealogyofhowes01howe#page/n5/mode/2up
Wow…my 3x great grandfather was the judge…the brother. Gawd how sad